Broke but workin’ it!

All right back to the show.

Many of us ladies use one methor or another to remove the dreaded moustache. I do it too. In the last lets say decade I’ve probably used everything. From those hair removal mitts, (OW sandpapering your face is not fun), wax hot and cold, sugaring, I tried threading once and ran screaming.

Which brings us to the creams.

There are a ton of depilatory creams on the market and no matter what the hype says they do the same basic thing. They use chemicals to dissolve the hair on your skin. Many will claim to last longer etc but, how quickly your hair grows back depends on your body. However, there are some products that contain hair growth inhibiting agents check the packaging on your preferred brand.

My favorite of the bunch is made by Sally Hansen. The hair removal cream for face is my absolute favorite. Now, none of these creams smell good. Most smell like butt. The Sally Hansen cream to my mind is one of the least offensive and the tube lasts a fairly long time.

I’ve noticed that, the finer hair between upper lip and nose usually melts first so I take that off first. Also make sure you do a patch test if not every time you want to use the product at least every other time. Hormonal changes, dietary changes etc can effect your skin and how the product works and nobody wants you to burn your pretty face.

If you’re anything like me there are at least two or three stubborn hairs that don’t want to go with the rest. Don’t make the mistake of reapplying the cream right away. While the hair is still soft from the cream use a pair of slanted tweezers to pull it out in the direction of hair growth. Yes, that hurts but over time the hair may come back finer and easier to remove.

When looking for a hair removal product especially for your face keep a few things in mind. Never use products designed for the body on your face. Do not use them on your eyebrows, follow the instructions and if you are getting ready for an event, use the products a few days to a week ahead of time just in case you experience some irritation.

If it is your first time using a depilatory cream check for a product for sensitive skin and be patient. It will take a few uses to get down your timing and application. And as with anything chemical (or otherwise) if you experience serious burning, itching, redness see your doctor.

So to wrap it up Sally Hansen gets my recommendation for a consistantly good and effective product. Also highly cost effective.

My braidout is fantastic.  Soft waves of varying sizes.  The only thing I’d really do differently is to use a styling product of some sort for a little more body.

Here’s what I did:

First I oiled my scalp and new growth with Doo Gro oil. (Though I name my products feel free to use whatever works for you, and this can work for you non afro haired folks to, I will notate what to leave out.) If you do not have afro textured hair, you will probably not need to do any oiling of your scalp.  However if your hair is very thick and or dry a couple of palms slicked with oil (try jojoba  oil or sweet almond oil worked from roots to ends.  Not much just enough for some lubrication and softening).  After oiling my scalp I used two different width wide toothed combs to gently comb out my hair.

Please note when you are doing this especially if you have very thick hair, start from the ends of your hair and work up to the roots to avoid yanking out more hair than need be.  Also work in small sections.  You will look funny but use a few ouchless elastics to hold other sections of hair out of the way so you can detangle and braid as you go.

Next the section you are going to braid, get it dampish with whatever cream or setting lotion/styling product you want to use.  I used Profectiv Mega Growth cream.  If you are non afro textured try an alcohol free gel or light mousse.  Now braid this section, remember the tighter/smaller the braid the smaller and tighter the waves will be. 

Repeat this all over your head.

To finish my braids I oiled the ends of my hair (because they tend to be super fluffy) and rolled them in foam rollers.

I left mine in a little over a day, how long you leave yours in will depend on your own comfort and how much of a wave you want.  Also take into consideration how your hair curls.    My hair in particular takes a curl very well.

When you take down your braids no need to do anything aside from seperate the waves to fall how you like, if you need to give it a spritz with a holding spray and go.

Cute and low maintanence!

Last night I braided my hair to attempt my first braid out.

Now I didn’t do the instructions entirely as listed. This weekend was not a wash weekend so, I did my braids after treating my scalp with Doo gro stimulating growth oil and Profectiv Mega Growth cream. A tip I found on a forum told me to roll the ends in a foam roller to protect them.

We’ll see how it turns out. I think this one won’t be a hair style I wear out because I made some of the brads a bit too big at the base.

I’ve been stretching time between relaxers (read here to see what a relaxer is) because I’ve been very guilty of over processing my hair and leaving it fragile and damaged. What I noticed is that a.)I should lessen my time between relaxers so I don’t break my hair trying to comb it and b.) my hair grows faster than I thought.

Something I’ve learned is that despite my frustrations over my hair (including much wailing, tearing of said hair and cursing myself while staring down a flat iron) I am doing okay with it.  Granted I feel like I’m a bit behind the curve when it comes to styling my hair but I’m learning.

Lately I’ve been jonesing to do things with my hair to show off my fantastic new growth.  To tell the truth when I showed a coworker the notorious baby butch purple brush cut then showed her my hair now when she said my hair is so pretty, and petted it lovingly I nearly wept.

Not since I was a little kid has someone really meant that in a way that made me feel very nice.

After I relax my hair I will post some before and after shots.

I’m also going to post a few actual reviews.  Tomorrow Sally Hansen Cream hair remover and maybe even Nads Cream Hair remover.

Goodnight and GoodHair.

Hello, my name is Shannon and I will be your hostess for this journey.I’ve maintain(ed) various blogs on the web for awhile and given my serious interest in all th ings beauty figured this would be a good thing to begin. I’ve been toying with the idea of opening up a blog devoted to beauty (in all its strange gloriousness) and finally made up my mind to do it and here we are.

What I would like to accomlish with this blog is to document what I learn through trial and error, research etc. I’ll be providing commentary, links, specials when I find them, and whatever wisdom I come to have. I very firmly believe that we all need someone to commiserate with and here I am.

Feel free to email me or comment with your own tips, experiences, point and laugh whatever you want. My only rule is no name calling and please, don’t spam.

With that, I guess I’m open.